Court To Hear Falana, Falz’s ₦1bn Defamation Suit Against VDM February 19
The Lagos State High Court in Ikeja has adjourned the ₦1 billion defamation lawsuit filed by renowned human rights lawyer Femi Falana (SAN) and his son, Folarin Falana, popularly known as Falz, against social media influencer Martins Otse, also known as VeryDarkBlackMan, to February 19, 2025.
The adjournment was granted to allow the court to hear a preliminary objection filed by Otse’s legal counsel, Marvin Omorogbe. The objection challenges the competence of the suit and the court’s territorial jurisdiction to entertain the case.
The Falanas initiated the lawsuit after Otse allegedly posted a video on his social media platforms accusing the duo of receiving ₦10 million from Idris Okuneye, better known as Bobrisky, to obstruct the course of justice. They are seeking ₦500 million in damages each, alongside other reliefs, for what they described as defamatory statements aimed at tarnishing their reputation.
On October 14, 2024, Justice Matthias Dawodu ordered Otse to remove the allegedly defamatory video and comments from his social media platforms. The court also issued an injunction restraining the influencer from making or sharing further defamatory content about Femi Falana and Falz pending the hearing and determination of the suit.
Justice Dawodu further directed that all legal processes related to the case be served on Otse through his lawyer, Deji Adeyanju.
At the resumed hearing on Thursday, Otse’s lawyer, Marvin Omorogbe, informed the court that he had received the plaintiffs’ counter-affidavit opposing his preliminary objection just a day earlier and requested additional time to file a response.
The plaintiffs’ counsel, Omotade Omotunbosun, did not oppose the request, prompting Justice Dawodu to adjourn the matter to February 19, 2025, for a hearing.
Omorogbe argued that the Lagos State High Court lacks territorial jurisdiction over the matter, citing provisions of the High Court of Lagos State (Civil Procedure) Rules, 2019. He maintained that his client is based in Abuja, where the alleged defamatory publication was made, and accused the claimants of engaging in forum shopping to secure a favorable judgment.
The Falanas, in their suit, allege that Otse knowingly published false and unverified statements with reckless disregard for their reputation. They contend that the influencer’s claims remain accessible on his social media platforms, causing continuous damage to their character.
In their claims, they seek the following reliefs:
1. A declaration that the video published on Otse’s Instagram handle on September 24, 2024, is defamatory, libellous, and damaging to their reputation.
2. ₦500 million in damages for defamation caused by the video publication.
3. An order of perpetual injunction restraining Otse and his agents from further publishing defamatory statements about them.
4. A directive compelling Otse to issue a public apology on his social media platforms and in a national daily newspaper.
The Falanas argue that Otse’s statements were based on an audio recording featuring an alleged one-sided narrative by Bobrisky, in which no mention was made of them receiving ₦10 million. They insist that the publication was maliciously crafted to damage their reputation.
The case will proceed for hearing on February 19, 2025.
